David Lehman

Project Manager, Retired from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Free Educational Speaker in Los Angeles & Orange County

  • Space in a Nutshell with a Focus on Mars

    TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

    What is that red dot among the stars? Learn the answer to this question, how NASA space missions are designed, and how this knowledge can be used to send spacecraft to explore the rusty-red colored planet Mars. You will also learn what is going on at Mars now and future NASA plans to explore Mars. MORE >

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  • Mars Explorers Unite: A Cosmic Adventure for Kids!

    TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

    Embark on a captivating journey to the red planet with a presentation for students from Kindergarten to 12th grade. Delve into the mysteries of Mars to provide a kid-friendly understanding of the planet. They will learn about NASA’s endeavors on Mars, from its initial exploration to current missions. They will also learn NASA's plans for the future, igniting curiosity about the endless possibilities of Martian exploration. The kids will discover the allure of Mars and why it has captivated the imagination of scientists and dreamers alike. The kids will learn about how one might journey to Mars, and about the essential elements and tools required for survival on the red planet. For kids aspiring to become a NASA astronaut or work for NASA in other positions, the presentation will offer valuable insights into how to achieve their goals. This presentation aims to inspire and educate, fostering a sense of wonder and determination in the next generation of space enthusiasts. MORE >

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  • Journey to the Moon: A Kid’s Guide to Space Exploration

    TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

    Embark of an educational adventure designed specifically for students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. This engaging presentation covers a spectrum of topics aimed at fostering a fascination for space exploration including: (1) facts about the Moon for kids, (2) a short history of NASA’s exploration of the Moon, (3) why kids would want to go to the Moon, (4) how kids can go to the Moon, (5) a summary of NASAs plans to return to the Moon with its ARTEMIS program, and (6) how kids can prepare to become a NASA astronaut. Join Mr. Lehman on this captivating journey as we ignite the spirt of exploration and curiosity for the next generation of space enthusiasts. “Journey to the Moon” promises to be an informative and inspiring experience for students eager to learn about the wonders of our universe. MORE >

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  • Dare Mighty Things – A Short History of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory

    TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

    The origins of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory date back to the 1930s, when Caltech professor Theodore von Kármán oversaw pioneering work in rocket propulsion. After unsuccessful and sometimes hazardous experiments, several of his graduate students were forced to move their work off campus. They chose the Arroyo Seco, a dry canyon wash north of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California – and future home of JPL. This early work grew into a laboratory of over 6000 employees that has sent spacecraft to every planet in our solar system and two spacecraft now in interstellar space. MORE >

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  • From Concept to Cosmos: A Journey through Project Management Principles and NASA’s Best Practices

    TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

    In this presentation Mr. Lehman will summarize the basic principles of project management. This will be followed by a summary of NASA’s process for managing space projects throughout the life cycle, including formulation which consists of Phase A (concept & technology development) and Phase B (preliminary design and technology completion phase), approval for implementation, and implementation which includes Phase C (final design & fabrication), Phase D (system assembly, integration & test, launch & checkout), and Phase E (operations and sustainment). He will address how NASA forms teams including the importance of key roles such as Project Manager, Project Systems Engineer (PSE), Safety & Mission Assurance Manager, and System Managers. He will then address the role of systems engineering in project management and the process of how PSEs mature their systems-level preliminary designs, and then address the expected maturity state of projects as they progress through the life cycle. Finally, Mr. Lehman will present three case studies in project management: the Deep Space 1 mission, the Mars Climate Orbiter failure lessons learned, and the last mission of the Space Shuttle Challenger. MORE >

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  • Women of NASA: Pioneers in Mars Exploration and Beyond

    TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

    Who are among the most prominent NASA ladies in our endeavors to explore Mars? Should future Mars crewed missions have all-female crews? These questions will be answered along with a description of the Mars Exploration Program, the Mars Sample Return Program, and the ARTEMIS program which has as one of its goals to send the first astronauts to Mars. MORE >

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  • WE ARE GOING! To the Moon with NASA

    TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

    Are you ready to embark on an extraordinary journey to the Moon? Learn about NASA's ARTEMIS program to ignite your imagination and curiosity like never before! Imagine standing on the lunar surface, witnessing breathtaking lunar landscapes, and exploring uncharted territories. ARTEMIS is not just a mission; it's a testament to human ingenuity and our unrelenting pursuit of knowledge. MORE >

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